Tokyo 2020: Archer Deepika Kumari’s knocked out after 4 strikes of 7

India’s Deepika Kumari competes in the women’s individual 1/8 eliminations round of the archery event, at the Summer Olympics 2020, in Tokyo, Friday, July 30, 2021. Deepika defeated Ksenia Perova of Russian Olympic Committee. (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)

Deepika grimaced, she knew it was difficult for her to wrestle back from the early setback. She could not afford any further slip-up while the serene San, who had already two medals in her bag in this Olympics, in women’s team and mixed team archery, had to really have a bad round. She did not look like in that mood either, not after setting an Olympic record in the qualifiers and in the best form of her life. But she was slightly off the target with her first shot, a nine. Deepika responded with 10, giving the Indian a rare sniff of an upset. But Deepika wilted, her next two attempts were both 7s, which gave the match on a platter to San. She atoned herself with a 10 in her second and seven sufficed to clinch her the set and give her four match points.

From thereon, Deepika required nothing less than a true miracle to retrieve her day. Her eyes betrayed the disappointment. But in the past, there have been instances of archers saving four match points. In the eliminator a few hours ago, she had staved off a stern challenge from ROC’s Ksenia Perova, winning the game 6-5. However, Deepika’s error-strewn ways continued, as he could manage just a seven in her first attempt. Followed 8 and 9, taking her total to 24. But the South Korean, even though she was not at her accurate best, managed 26 to wrap up the game and enter the semifinals.

For Deepika, it was yet another heartbreak story in Olympics.